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What is Kopimism?

The following is a compilation of values statements translated from the Swedish Missionary Church of Kopimism. It embodies our basic values, motives, and intentions. Where appropriate, remixing has taken place for invocation of USA-specific imagery. We welcome suggestions in the comments section or through direct e-mail contact (e-mail info can be found on the contact page).
Kopimi was coined as a concept in the early 2000′s on a pirate Agency Forum. Kopimi, from the word “copy me”, is an invitation to copy. Kopimi is the name of an attitude to life, animated by the desire to be copied and copied. For us the question of freedom to copy is not political, but much deeper than that.

The Church of Kopimism does not make claims regarding gods or supernatural forces. Life as we know it originated with the DNA molecule’s ability to duplicate itself, irrespective of the original creation of the Universe. The process is the most basic element of life, nature, and the DNA is really just an information carrier, a result of molecular segments that determine who we become. Reproduction is the very condition for cell division and life in the form we know it.

Copying is fundamental to life and runs constantly all around us. Shared information provides new perspectives and generate new life. We feel a spiritual connection to the created file.

An important feature of our church is the missionary message. From all to one and from one to all – and then back again – exchange without beginning and without end. Everything to everyone’s delight, and everybody’s joy of it all. No one is excluded from the global community of knowledge and information sharing. Every believer has all knowledge – all knowledge is spread by every believer to all people without exception. Start the exponential cascade.

Languages are cultural expressions of different ways to exchange information, and are essential tools for most social animals. Culture itself develops in concert with the dissemination and evolution of languages. It is not possible to distinguish the spread of culture from the creative process because it is virtually the same thing. As with language, culture becomes useless and dies out if it does not spread. Copying is creating. To create is to copy. That something occurs out of nothing is an absurd idea.

The missionary Church of Kopimism applied to become a registered religious community because we deserve the same recognition and respect other faiths. Soon we will also apply for marriages, as well as for government support to expand our business.

We humans always want answers to difficult questions. Kopimism is a creed that tries to answer the existential question: what is the meaning of life? We believe the answer lies in the copying, distribution and remixing of information.

Our faith

From all at one and from one to all – and then back – exchange without beginning and without end. Everything to everyone’s delight, and everybody’s joy of it all. No privileges, no exclusions – everywhere. Every believer has all knowledge – all knowledge is spread by every believer to all people without exception. Start the exponential cascade.

Our opponents, those who seek to censor, control, and limit the internet, do so because the Internet is communication and communication is spreading knowledge. An open, unfettered internet is a threat to these individuals, who prefer to stand between creators, content, and its distribution. We love the internet, but they seek to close it, and may succeed in this goal incrementally throughout the next several years. All believers should consider their ability to find other ways than the existing internet to copy and distribute. All means other than violence and destruction of physical property are allowed.

The message is spreading as it should – through the autonomous, the sovereign, through both individuals and groups.

It kopimistiska assignment is based on a few basic axioms, which in turn can be traced back to our strong defense of the informational value, the value that all information, in itself, possesses, regardless of what the information is for properties. Since information and information value is so sacred to us recognizes kopimister following axioms:

- Copying of information is ethically right.
- Dissemination of information is ethically right.
- Copymixing is a sacred kind of copying, moreso than the perfect, digital copying, because it expands and enhances the existing wealth of information
- Copying or remixing information communicated by another person is seen as an act of respect and a strong expression of acceptance and Kopimistic faith.
- The internet is holy.
- Code is law.

These are the basic axioms upon which Kopimism is based, and Kopimism members, Kopimists, and Church of Kopimism religious spokespersons, operators, dedicate their lives to live under these rules. In the eyes of a Kopimist or operator, good living is defined by these religious foundations.

Operators (Priest)

The operator’s primary task is to live according to Kopimist values. Their secondary role is to assist other Kopimists in living according Kopimist values. Their tertiary job is to actively shape their environment to become more Kopimistic.

Becoming a Kopimist

All those who recognize their own values in those of the Kopimistic faith may already call themselves Kopimists, but to become a member of the missionary Church of Kopimism one needs to undergo a rite. They disclose their personal data to the Church of Kopimism through the website, then one must in some way copy the Church of Kopimism symbol in order to go through the entrance rite. You can only be a Kopimism if you profess to Church of Kopimism’s basic belief foundation presented in the Constitution. You can both download it from the Church of Kopimism’s server, rewrite it, or send a copy to a friend. All copying is possible. In fact, if you’re reading this from our website, it is enough to update the browser to download a copy of our logo from the top of the page.

Symbolism

The Church of Kopimism symbol is a pyramid with the letter C inside. It’s called Kopimi-pyramid or the Holy Kopimi-pyramid. It is the symbol that you refer to as kopimistsamfundets symbol throughout this the document. It is, however, quite permissible for individuals to depict, copy, and remix any icon and call it the Kopymism symbol. Operators may, at their discretion, also copy, remix, and adopt alternative symbols, however it is of the utmost importance at they also remain stewards of the traditions set forth in these documents. Therefore, all operators are required, when conducting their official duties (such as during worship, pastoral care, and the ritual of giving op), to use an official Kopimi-piramid in the transfer as described above.

Interaction Points

Interaction points are sacred sites that should remain free from andi-Kopimist monitoring and actions. The interaction point is identified by a depiction of the Holy Kopimi-pyramid. An operator will place the Kopimi-pyramid and pronounce the phrase, “I do hereby declare this a local interaction point. Copy and seed .” Interaction points can be inside or outside any dormitory, dwelling, public space, or private space. The Holy Kopimi-pyramid should always be present in interaction point rooms.